...free to choose...

The Uproar in Thessalonica

“1 After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.’ 4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the market-places they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s house. 6 When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, ‘These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.’ 8 The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, 9 and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.

Paul and Silas in Beroea

10 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds. 14 Then the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him” Acts 17:1-15.

Stories such as these make me wonder: what is it that makes some people believe in Jesus while others choose not to believe in Jesus? What is it that makes you and me believers, while others in our family, or some of our friends or colleagues don’t believe in Jesus? Why do you and I sometimes walk away from the path God has laid out for us to follow? What do we sin? I think there are a number of things at play here. God gives us free choice to make decisions. We are not puppets on a string with Jesus acting as a puppeteer. Everything we choose in life has free will built into the decision. You and I are free to reject the grace of God. We are free to refuse what God gives us. When God gives us what we need in life, we are free to reject  what God gives us. We are free to reject the grace of God! That’s free choice! 

Yet, when we choose to follow Christ, we have only Christ to thank for that, for when we follow Christ, we are choosing to follow Christ, we are choosing to accept the grace of God, we are choosing to accept what God is giving us. We can refuse God’s grace. We can refuse to choose what God wishes to give us. We can listen to our own thoughts, and even if they differ from what God wishes us to think, we are nevertheless free to make our own decisions. 

And when we choose to follow Christ, we have only Jesus Christ to thanks. But when we choose to go our own ways, we have no one to blame but ourselves. When the Apostle Paul arrived in the Greek city of Thessalonica, some made the graced decision to follow Paul and to accept His teachings about Jesus Christ. Others chose to forget about Paul’s teachings and  instead they chose to follow their own paths. Yet, in the Greek city of Beroea, the people chose to follow Christ! 

Consider your decisions today in your prayer. Pray for forgiveness for the moments in life when you chose a different path than the one chosen for you by Christ! Such decisions are most often sinful! And never forget to give God thanks for making decisions to follow Him in your daily life. And as you read the Scriptures, pay attention to the decisions and choices people make regarding the will of God. Remember that Satan is alive and well, trying every moment to persuade you to walk away from Christ. Resist the devil and follow Christ. And when you do that, give thanks to God for His abundant and sufficient grace.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.